Member sees over $90,000 in medical bill discounts, is caregiver for son facing blindness

By Barry Milazzo, Wayne, N.J.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. (Acts 20:24).

My life is a lesson in perseverance. During a 10-year period I went from being a successful Manhattan businessman with three healthy children to a struggling single father who lost his home and whose son became severely disabled.

At eight months old, my oldest son, Bryson, suffered a catastrophic brain injury. Doctors predicted that he would never walk or speak and would probably need to be placed in an institution.

Against all odds and after thousands of hours of torturous repetition, at age 10 Bryson took his first steps.

Today Bryson is an adult and speaks well, though it only takes about five seconds of conversation to realize that, mentally, he will always remain a child. I will praise God forever that, through His word and Bryson’s situation, Jesus taught me that to enter His kingdom we must all become like little children.

When I saw how Bryson’s story touched people’s hearts and pointed them to the kingdom of God, I decided to write a book about him called All The King’s Horses: Finding Purpose and Hope in Brokenness and Impossibility. (Editor’s note: The book is available for purchase at amazon.com/dp/1985722151.) I also started a nonprofit ministry with the same name (allthekingshorsesministry.com).

In January 2018 I joined CHM’s Gold program with Brother’s Keeper for catastrophic costs. One day in August I was getting ready to walk our dog when I fell down our deck steps and landed hard on my left shoulder. I was scheduled for reconstructive surgery on Sept. 12.

The procedure went well, but I knew the price tag would exceed $100,000. The executive director of the surgery center was aware that I run a nonprofit ministry and that I remain the sole caregiver for my disabled son. He also saw a video (youtube.com/watch?v=ENSm4pDQu6g&feature=youtu.be) about my book.

As a result, the surgical center waived its $9,000 in charges and the surgeon’s fees were reduced by over $91,000! That left about $6,500 in remaining charges and CHM shared those expenses.

I want to thank CHM members for their support during this difficult time of caring for Bryson with one arm, especially since he is now battling blindness and I have to treat his eyes with various medications more than 10 times per day. I had to postpone one of his eye surgeries until I could recover more fully from my shoulder surgery and thus be able to adequately perform his post-surgical care.

The title of my book and ministry comes from the nursery rhyme “Humpty Dumpty.” Like Humpty Dumpty, all the king’s horses and men weren’t able to mend the pieces of my broken family. Jesus is the only King who can help us face the brokenness in our lives and put them back together again.

We thank Him for providing Christian Healthcare Ministries so I can regain full use of my shoulder and take care of my family.

I'm very impressed by how efficiently and cost-effectively CHM has served our team at Compass - Finances God’s way. I love the core value that is the foundation upon which CHM is built – God’s people taking care of one another!